Coupling-plate for poles and doubletrees



Patented Ian. 3, I899. G. W. CONRAD.

COUPLING PLATE FOR POLES AND DOUBLETR EES.

(Application filed. Jan. 17, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE 'W. CONRAD, OF TROY, OIIIO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,900, dated January3, 1899.

Application filed January 1 7 1 8 9 8. Serial No. 6 6 6 ,95 '7. (Nomodel.)

T0 (0% whom it may concern.-

Be it-known that I, GEORGE WV. CONRAD, a

citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Troy, in thecounty of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Coupling-Plates for Poles and Doubletrees; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in plates to be placed on the poleor. tongue and the doubletree of a vehicle at a point'where theyintersect for the purpose of coupling them; and the object for which mysaid invention is designed is to do away with the objectionable strapsor state chains which connect the single or double tree to the rude orcircle of the pole and to thus prevent the single or double tree frombeing rubbed by the wheels (as is the case when straps or state-chainsare used) and alsoto act as an evener', also, to construct a set ofcouplingplates that can be manufactured at a minimum cost and yet bestrong and durable and not become useless after being used a short timeby reason of their becoming loose or broken off; and to this end myinvention consists of plates provided with flanges or lips which extendover the sides of the pole and doubletree and other combination of novelfeatures of construction, as will be more fully described hereinafterand pointed outin the subjoined claims in accordance with the statutesmade and provided therefor.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, andin which similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout theseveral views, Figure 1 is a top plan View of a vehicle pole or tonguecomplete having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a centralvertical transverse sectional View taken through the doubletree and poleand having my improved coupling-plates attached thereto. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the upper or doubletree plate, taken from the bottomside or face, which rests on the lower or pole plate. Fig. 4 is aperspective View of the lower or pole plate, taken from its top side orface, on which rests the upper or doubletree plate. Fig. 5 is a bottomplan view of the upper and lower plates together, showing the transverseangular flanges on the upper or doubletree plate bearing against theside flanges or lips of the lower or pole plate in the position theyassume in equalizing an uneven draft and showing the location of thepole and doubletree in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of theupper and lower plates together in the position they assume when thereis an even draft and showing the location of the pole and donbletree indotted lines.

In the drawings the letter A represents the lower or base plate, whichrests on the top of the pole or tongue and is secured thereto at eachend by a bolt and screw, which pass through the openings at and arespectively,

I and is formed with two depending side flanges or lips or at rightangles to main or top portion A, one on each side thereof, of sufficientsize to extend far enough down over the sides of the pole or tongue toprevent any lateral movement or displacement of the plate or looseningor breakage of the bolts or screws, which is often the case in anysudden jar or wrench received in starting the horse or in striking astone. Said lower or base plate is further provided with a centralopening a through which passes the usual king-bolt or pivot for couplingthe doubletree to the pole and around which it rotates. Around thecentral opening a a arises an annular flange or collar a to a slightdistance above said main portion A and to about the thickness of theupper or doubletree plate and terminating at its base in an annulargroove aiwhich forms a seat or hearing in which rests the annular flange12 which depends from the upper or doubletree plate and which is alloweda partial rotation therein as the doubletree is rotated slightly backand forward by means of the singletrees connected to each end of thedoubletree by reason of the draft exerted as the horses pull.

The upper or top plate B rests on top of and transversely to said lowerplate A and bears against the bottom of the doubletree, which itsupports, and is secured thereto at each end by a bolt and screw, whichpass through the openings Z) and b respectively, and are form ed withtwo upturn ed side flanges or lips 1) (identical in form to thedepending side flanges or lips of the lower plate and are situatedtransversely thereto) and formed at right angles to main top portion B,one on each side thereof, of sufficient size to extend far enough uparound the sides of the doubletree to firmly grip it and prevent anylateral movement or displacement of said up per plate or loosening orbreakage of the bolts or screws by means of any sudden jar, as abovereferred to in the description of the lower plate. Said upper plate isfurther provided with a central opening 11 through which passes theannular flange or collar (1, of the lower plate, as above referred to.this central opening b depends an annular flange or collar 1) ofsufficient depth to rest in the annular groove aflwhich forms a bearingor seat for it and in which it rotates or turns, as heretofore stated.

Extending transversely across the bottom face of upper or doubletreeplate and depending therefrom are two transverse flanges a, formed withan angle or inclined sides or edges cl, which meet at a point 6. (SeeFigs. 3, 5, and 6.) Said transverse flanges c, by means of theirinclined sides or faces dbearing against the side flangesor lips or ofthe lower plate, allow of a partial rotation, as shown in Fig. 5, thusequalizing the draft by doing away with the straps or state-chains,which usually run from the doubletree and connect to the axle or circleof the pole; but

when there is an even or straight draft the,

point e will come in contact with side flanges or lips a of the lowerplate, as shown in Fig. 6.

A small bearing-plate D of the usual form is attached to the top of thedoubletree, so as to form a bearing for the top strap or guard 0,through the center of which at 0' passes the king-bolt or pivot, whichcouples all the parts together. Said strap or guard is provided at eachend with a foot 0 in which is a boltopening which alines itself withbolt-opening c of lower or pole plate A and receives the sailne boltwhich thus connects them to the po c.

On the under side of the doubletree is another or bottom strap or guardO, identically the same as the top strap and situated transverselythereto, through the center opening 0 of which passes the king-bolt, andformed with a foot 0 at each end provided with a bolt-opening whichalines itself with the boltopening b of its upper or doubletree plate B,the purpose (if these upper and lower straps or guards 0 being toprotect all the parts at the point where they couple to the pole ortongue and prevent them from wabbling in the usual manner.

I am aware that flat rectangular plates having recessed flanges andnumerous bolt- Around openings have been used for coupling thedoubletree to the pole; but as these have been found to beveryimpracticable forthe reason that the numerous bolt-openings and theform of flanges have weakened these plates, so that the least jar willdisplace or break them, these features are not in my invention, and I donot, therefore, claim such an impracticable device; but

What I do claim as new and useful and as my invention, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a coupler for the pole and doubletree of avehicle, of a plate having a central opening, an annular flange, a mainportion having upturned side flanges or lips, transverse flangesprovided with angular or inclined sides which meet in an apex or centralpoint; with a strap or guard provided with a central opening a foot ateach end for connecting it to the doubletree, all substantially asspecified.

2. In coupling-plates for connecting the pole and doubletree of avehicle; the combination with the lower or pole plate formed withsuitable openings to receive bolts for attaching it to the pole, acentral bolt-opening, an annular flange terminating in an annular grooveand provided with a side flange on each side formed at right angles toits main portion; of an upper or doubletree plate adapted to resttransversely on said lower plate and rotate thereon, and formed withsuitable openings to receive bolts for attaching it to the doubletree, acentral bolt-opening, an annular flange, two transverse flanges havinginclined edges or faces which meet at a central point; anda side flangeon each side formed at right angles to its main portion, substantiallyas specified.

3. The combination in a coupler for the pole and doubletree of avehicle, of a lower plate having a central opening, an annular flangeterminating at its base in an annular groove, a main portion havingdepending side flanges, of a strap or guard provided with a centralopening, a foot at each end for attaching it to the tongue; with anupper plate having a central opening, an annular flange, a main portionhaving upturned side flanges or lips, transverse flanges provided withangular inclined sides which meet in an apex or central point; of astrap or guard provided with a central opening, a foot at each end forattaching it to the doubletree, all substantially as specified.

4. The combination with the tongue and doubletree of a vehicle; of twoplates, one to be attached to the pole and the other to the doubletree;and adapted to work one on top of the other, each provided with acentral opening, an annular flange on each to work one within the other,an annular groove which acts as a seat for one of said annular flanges,transverse flanges provided with angular or inclined sides which meet inan apex; both plates provided with side flanges adapted to firmly gripthe sides of the pole and doubletree, and a top and bottom strap orguard situated transversely one to the other, each formed with a centralbolt-opening, a foot on each end,provided with a bolt-opening thereinfor connecting them to the tongue and donbletree, respectively,substantially as specified. 10

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

GEO. W. CONRAD.

Witnesses:

LEONARD H. SHIPMAN, W. G. NIOOL.

